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Here are some of the comments from players during the week -Justin Smith doesn’t remember when his hand “broke open” against the Raiders. He needed five stitches to close the wound. Smith hasn’t missed a game in his 10-year career and isn’t on the injury report. David Carr can’t be happy this week. -One move […]
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You just have to wonder about the Troy Smith move at this point. Speaking in London, offensive coordinator Mike Johnson said the team would have to pare down the playbook for Smith, particularly in the crucial areas of the red zone and on third down. Johnson was asked if he was part of the decision […]
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Third-string quarterback Troy Smith will start Sunday’s international game against the Broncos, coach Mike Singletary said before their first practice outside London this morning. Smith unexpectedly leapfrogged backup David Carr to replace starter Alex Smith, who Singletary said is out two-to-three weeks with a separated left shoulder. Troy Smith gets the nod. The 49ers signed […]
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-Alex Smith was hurt, it was the sixth straight time he’d been hit while attempting to pass. Some of those hits were his fault. Lately, he’s fallen into the habit of running into trouble. -Several breakdowns occurred on Smith’s sack. First, the 49ers called for max protection with both running backs, Anthony Dixon and Moran […]
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Niners owner John York usually lets his son Jed do the media talking, but he took a few moments to field questions today during an appearance at a London school. The first question: Will Mike Singletary remain your head coach? “Mike is our coach,” John York said while several 49ers taught the school kids some […]
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Why would Mike Singletary volunteer that the 49ers are going to make the playoffs? Why would Jed York say the same thing a few weeks ago when it’s clear this team is fraught with a myriad of problems? One motivation maybe the overwhelming desire by these two to express confidence and instill faith in the […]
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-Ted Ginn Jr.’s speed is what the 49ers need. But he gets pushed out of bounds too easily. A couple of times, the punter has done it. -One prevalent feature of offensive coordinator Mike Johnson’s play calling is running out of three-receiver sets. He loves to do it and it works. -Now the 49ers have […]
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The scene at the end of the game – Mike Singletary standing by himself, scratching his head for a long time. He’s baffled. This season is over. I was going to write this in the preview, now the 49ers have to question everything. Their defense, their head coach, their coach, even their owner. Imagine what […]
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Mike Singletary was tight-lipped about everything after the game, even whether Alex Smith would make the trip to London. If he can’t play, there’s no reason for him to go. Singletary wouldn’t name David Carr his replacement saying he would have to look at the game film, which leads the door slightly open for a […]
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The 49ers continue to make mistakes big and small that prevent wins. In the final drive, Ted Ginn Jr. decides to run out the kickoff despite being 5 yards deep in the end. He didn’t get to the 20 and the return burned four seconds. Then on first down, David Carr checks it down to […]
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First half summary: The Panthers might have the worst receiving corps in the game, but the 49ers secondary couldn’t stay with them. Two PI’s and then a 22-yard TD pass from the struggling Matt Moore to a rookie David Gettis, tied the game. It Gettis’s first touchdown of his career. Smith started hot by then […]
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The 49ers face a team much like they played last week – a offensively futile unit with a weak defense against the run. It means the Panthers are fully capable of going nearly half the game without completing a pass, which is what the Raiders did. The completion drought allowed the 49ers own offense to […]
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It’s bon voyage day at the 49ers. The team packed up and shipped off for what they hope will be 10 fun-filled days playing against win-less Carolina and then the injury-depleted Broncos on England’s bless-ed plot. It’s a trip that will likely make-or-break Mike Singletary. Lose one of those games and Singletary’s and the 49ers’ […]
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Mike Singletary poo-pooed his team’s possible interest in the soon-to-be-released Shawne Merriman, but Merriman’s one-time position coach lauded the former Pro Bowl pass rusher. “When I had him four years ago, Shawnie was a great football player,” Manusky said. “I love everything about him. He’s a true football player.” Manusky didn’t reveal whether the team […]
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The NFL announced today it will suspend players for illegal hits to the head and neck, and discipline coaches and teams who teach that sort of technique. Predictably, reaction from the 49ers’ locker room was anti-establishment. Unpredictably, it was those who stand to benefit the most who opposed it the most. “It’s going to happen,” […]
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-NaVorro Bowman gets beat too often in small spaces. Last week he over ran Eagles quarterback Kevin Kolb, and on the Raiders first drive, he was juked by Michael Bush and Jason Campbell. As KNBR’s Ted Robinson said this is not the time to develop young players. The 49ers should be playing their best players, […]
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With the 49ers special teams starting to emerge from their early-season struggles, they suffer the loss of one their core players, safety Curtis Taylor. He’s out for the year with a torn thigh muscle. Taylor was running down on a kickoff against the Raiders when he fell without getting hit. Last season, Taylor was placed […]
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It came right at the end of Mike Singletary’s Monday news conference. It was small, but unmistakable. Mike Singletary smiled. Singletary also said it was good to see his players having a good time at the end of their lone victory this season Sunday against the Raiders, particularly when defensive linemen Isaac Sopoaga went in […]
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-Alex Smith had some choice words for the referees. “That’s ridiculous,” Smith said when asked to respond to the intentional grounding call in the third quarter, before Smith cranked up his 32-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree. “I’ve never seen that before,” Smith went on. “He (the ref) doesn’t know (if the ball slipped). He […]
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Smith finished 16 for 33 for 196 yards two TD’s and I think this is the first game he didn’t have a turnover. After the second quarter, the 49ers dominated with 15 first downs to 2. It took them awhile, but they did control this game against an inferior opponent. Not only do the 49ers […]
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First half summary: Singletary continues to have an ongoing conversation with Alex Smith. This offense could only muster 125 yards of offense against a bad defense. The coaching staff is wanting. Singletary challenged a fumble when the whistle blew, which makes the play unable to be challenged. Then on a field-goal formation, the 49ers trotted […]
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-The Raiders offense of coordinator Hue Jackson looks much like Jimmy Raye’s scheme, not much personnel group or formation variation. However, at least in the last game against San Diego, Jackson had splendid timing with his calls. He likes to allow the defense to get up field and then run behind them. He also likes […]
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